U.S. patent number 4,819,448 [Application Number 07/095,552] was granted by the patent office on 1989-04-11 for evaporative cooler.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tradewinds Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles J. Bardo, Charles M. Campbell.
United States Patent |
4,819,448 |
Bardo , et al. |
April 11, 1989 |
Evaporative cooler
Abstract
An evaporative cooler having a molded plastic base and a molded
plastic top cap includes molded plastic legs on the base and molded
recesses in the top cap for permitting a plurality of coolers to be
stacked. Adjustable leg extensions can be attached to the legs for
mounting the cooler on a sloping roof. Latches are pivotally
mounted on the corners of the base and the top cap for holding the
side panels of the cooler together.
Inventors: |
Bardo; Charles J. (Fort Worth,
TX), Campbell; Charles M. (Tempe, AZ) |
Assignee: |
Tradewinds Technologies, Inc.
(Phoenix, AZ)
|
Family
ID: |
22252539 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/095,552 |
Filed: |
September 11, 1987 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/304; 248/237;
62/259.1; 62/DIG.16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F
13/32 (20130101); Y10S 62/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F24F
13/32 (20060101); F28D 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;62/259.1,DIG.16,304
;248/237 ;182/45 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
4470271 |
September 1984 |
Draper et al. |
|
Primary Examiner: Bennet; Henry A.
Claims
I claim:
1. An evaporative cooler comprising a molded plastic base, a
plurality of side panels mountd on the base, and a top cap above
the side panels, the base including a plurality of molded legs, a
leg extension attached to at least one of the molded legs for
mounting the cooler on a sloping surface, and a leveler support
bracket attached to the leg extension and having a flat supporting
surface, the leveler support bracket being adjustably attached to
the leg extension whereby the angle of the flat supporting surface
can be adjusted to correspond to the slope of the roof.
2. The cooler of claim 1 including a foot attached to the leg
extension and having a generally vertically extending flat mounting
bracket, the leveler support bracket being adjustably attached to
the flat mounting bracket.
3. The cooler of claim 1 in which the leg extension includes an
upper part attached to the molded leg and a lower part attached to
the upper part, one of the upper and lower parts having an
attaching opening and the other of the upper and lower parts having
a plurality of vertically spaced attaching openings which are
alignable with the attaching opening in said one part by moving the
parts vertically relative to each other whereby the overall length
of the leg extension can be varied.
4. The cooler of claim 1 in which the base includes a downwardly
extending projection adjacent said one molded leg and space from
one molded leg approximately the thickness of the leg extension for
holding the leg extension against the leg.
5. The cooler of claim 1 in which said one molded leg includes a
middle vertically extending panel and a pair of side vertically
extending panels each of which form an obtuse included angle with
the middle panel, said leg extension including a middle vertically
extending panel which abuts the middle panel of said one leg and a
pair of side vertically extending panels which abut the side panels
of said one leg.
6. The cooler of claim 1 in which said top cap is molded plastic
and is provided with a recess vertically above said legs, each of
said recesses having a shape corresponding to the bottom of the
legs whereby a pair of said coolers can be vertically stacked by
inserting the legs of the upper cooler into the recesses of the
lower cooler.
7. The cooler of claim 6 in which each of said recesses has a
plurality of side walls for engaging the leg of a stacked cooler
and for restraining horizontal movement of said leg.
8. The cooler of claim 1 including a latch pivotally mounted on the
top cap above the juncture between each pair of adjacent side
panels and a pair of latch brackets attached to the top of each of
the side panels, each of the latches being engageable with a pair
of latch brackets on a pair of adjacent side panels for holding the
side panels together.
9. The cooler of claim 8 in which each of said latch brackets
includes a generally vertically extending groove into which the
latch is inserted for latching the brackets.
10. The cooler of claim 8 including a bottom latch pivotally
mounted on the base below the juncture between each pair of
adjacent side panels and a pair of bottom latch brackets attached
to the bottom of each of the side panels, each of the bottom
latches being engageable with a pair of bottom latch brackets on a
pair of adjacent side panels for holding the side panels
together.
11. The cooler of claim 10 in which each of said bottom latch
brackets includes a generally vertically extending groove into
which the bottom latch is inserted for latching the brackets.
12. An evaporative cooler comprising a molded plastic base, a
plurality of side panels mounted on the base, and a molded plastic
top cap above the side panels, the base being generally rectangular
and having a downwardly extending molded leg at each corner
thereof, the top cap being generally rectangular and having a
downwardly extending recess at each corner thereof, each recess
having a shape corresponding to the bottom of the legs whereby a
pair of said coolers can be vertically stacked by inserting the
legs of the upper cooler into the recesses of the lower cooler.
13. The cooler of claim 12 in which each of said recesses has a
plurality of side walls for engaging the leg of a stacked cooler
and for restraining horizontal movement of said leg.
14. An evaporative cooler comprising a generally rectangular molded
plastic base, four molded plastic side panels mounted on the base,
and a generally rectangular molded plastic top cap above the side
panels, a latch pivotally mounted on the top cap at each of the
corners thereof for movement between latching and unlatching
positions, and a pair of molded latch brackets at the top of each
of the side panels, each of the latches being engageable with a
pair of latch brackets on a pair of adjacent side panels for
holding the side panels together.
15. The cooler of claim 14 in which the latch is generally U-shaped
and each of the latch brackets includes a generally vertically
extending groove into which the latch is inserted for latching the
brackets.
16. The cooler of claim 14 including a bottom latch pivotally
mounted on the base below the juncture between each pair of
adjacent side panels and a pair of bottom latch brackets attached
to the bottom of each of the side panels, each of the bottom
latches being engageable with a pair of bottom latch brackets on a
pair of adjacent side panels for holding the side panels.
17. The cooler of claim 16 in which each of said bottom latch
brackets includes a generally vertically extending groove into
which the bottom latch is inserted for latching the brackets.
18. The cooler of claim 14 in which the top cap includes a molded
latch support bracket at each corner thereof, each latch having a
generally U-shaped latching portion and a pair of outwardly
extending end portions which are pivotally mounted in openings in
one of the latch support brackets, each of the latch support
brackets having a detent for engaging the U-shaped latching portion
of a latch for maintaining the latch out of engagement with the
side panels when the latch is unlatched.
Description
This invention relates to evaporative coolers, and, more
particularly, to an evaporative cooler which includes a plurality
of novel features for facilitating the manufacture, storage and
shipping, and use of the cooler.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
This invention is an improvement over the evaporative cooler
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,366. The cooler described in that
patent includes a molded plastic base, a molded plastic top cap,
and four molded plastic side panels which are provided with
louvers. The blower and other functional components of the cooler
are mounted on the base inside of the side panels, and the top cap
is mounted on the blower housing with or without using corner
support rods. The louver panels interfit with the base and the top
cap and are releasably attached to the top cap by rotating
latches.
In accordance with the invention the base is provided with a
downwardly extending molded leg at each corner, and the top cap is
provided with a molded recess at each corner. A plurality of
coolers can be stacked by inserting the legs of the upper cooler
into the recesses of the lower cooler. Adjustable leg extensions
can be attached to the legs for mounting the cooler on a sloping
roof. Latches are pivotally mounted on the corners of the base and
the top cap for holding the side panels of the cooler together.
Each latch is engageable with a molded latch bracket on each pair
of adjacent side panels.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative
embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which--
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an evaporative cooler formed in
accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the cooler mounted on a
sloping roof;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the adjustable
leg extensions;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of one of the adjustable leg
extensions;
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the lower part of the leg
extension;
FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of one of the molded legs of
the base of the cooler;
FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view showing an adjustable leg
extension attached to the molded leg;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top and bottom
latches for latching the side panels;
FIG. 9 is a top fragmentary perspective view showing one cooler
about to be stacked on top of another cooler; and
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the stacked
coolers.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 15 designates an evaporative
cooler which is similar to the evaporative cooler described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,479,366. The cooler includes a molded plastic base 16,
four molded plastic side panels 17 which are supported by the base,
and a molded plastic top cap 18 which is mounted above the side
panels. The interior of the evaporative cooler can be the same as
that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,366. The top cap 18 can be
mounted on the blower housing as described in the patent with or
without vertical corner posts so that the four side panels can be
removed without removing the top cap. Each of the side panels
includes a louver panel 19.
The base 16 is generally rectangular, and a downwardly extending
leg 21 is molded integrally with the base at each corner. Referring
to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, each leg includes an outer wall 22 which
extends vertically downwardly from the bottom surface 23 of the
base and a pair of reinforcing inner walls 24. The outer wall
includes a central panel 25 and a pair of diverging side panels 26
and 27, each of which form an obtuse included angle with the
central panel. A pair of molded detents or projections 28 and 29
(FIG. 6) extend downwardly from the base adjacent the central leg
panel 25, and molded detents 30 and 31 extend downwardly adjacent
side panels 26 and 27, respectively. The base is provided with a
pair of molded-in holes 32 for attaching the base to a conventional
roof stand if desired.
Evaporative coolers are commonly mounted on the roof of a building.
If the roof slopes, the molded legs 21 permit adjustable leg
extensions to be attached to a pair of legs for leveling the
cooler. Referring to FIG. 2, the cooler 15 is mounted on a sloping
roof 35. A supporting foot assembly 36 is attached directly to each
of the rear legs 21a, and a leg extension assembly 37 is attached
to each of the front legs 21b. A foot assembly 36 is attached to
the bottom of each leg extension 37. A duct 38 extends from the
blower inside the cooler through the roof.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each leg extension assembly 37 includes
an upper leg extension 39 and a lower leg extension 40, each of
which can be formed from metal if desired. The upper leg extension
37 has a cross sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the
molded leg 21 and includes a central panel 41 and a pair of side
panels 42 and 43. Bolt holes 44 in the upper portion of the upper
leg extension 39 and bolt holes 45 and a slot 46 in the leg 21
permit those parts to be attached by bolts 47. The bolt holes 44
and 45 are located so that the top of the leg extension 39 abuts
the bottom surface 23 of the base 16 (FIG. 7) when the leg
extension is attached. The distance between the detents 28-30 and
the leg 21 is substantially the same as the thickness of the leg
extension 39, and the leg extension 39 is inserted between the
detents and the leg 21. The detents thereby retain the leg
extension against the leg.
The lower leg extension 40 also includes a central panel 49 and
side panels 50 and 51. Each panel is provided with a plurality of
vertically spaced bolt holes 52 through 59 for attaching the lower
leg extension to the upper leg extension depending upon the pitch
of the roof. If desired the bolt holes 52-59 can be kept closed by
knock-out slugs so that the desired openings are made by knocking
out the appropriate slugs. For example, the holes 53 might be used
for a roof with a pitch of 4/12 (4" of drop for every 12" of
horizontal distance), the holes 56 might be used for a pitch of
3/12, and the holes 59 might be used for a pitch of 2/12. The
selected bolt holes are aligned with bolt holes 60 in the upper leg
extension 39 and connected by bolts 61.
The supporting foot assembly 36 is attached to the bottom of the
lower leg extension 40 by bolts which extend through bolt holes 63
and 64. The foot assembly includes a metal foot 65 and a metal
leveler 66. The foot 65 includes an angle portion 67 which is
attached to the lower leg extension and a downwardly extending flat
mounting bracket 68 which extends in a generally vertical plane
when the foot assembly is attached to the vertically extending leg
extension. The leveler 66 includes a flat attaching portion 69
which extends in a vertical plane and a flat support portion 70
which extends perpendicuarly to the attaching portion. A bolt 71
extends through a slot 72 in the leveler and a bolt hole 73 in the
foot. Before the bolt 71 is tightened, the foot is adjusted so that
the flat supporting portion 70 bears agains the roof.
The foot assembly 36 illustrated in FIG. 4 is designed for use on
the left front leg of the cooler. The angle 67 is attached to the
panels 49 and 50 of the lower leg extension 40, and the attaching
portion 68 extends parallel to the left side panel of the cooler.
FIG. 3 illustrates the foot assembly for use on the right front leg
of the cooler. The angle 67a is attached to the panels 49 and 51 of
the lower leg extension 40, and the attaching portion 68a extends
parallel to the right side panel of the cooler.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the right and left foot assemblies 36
for the rear legs 21a are attached directly to the molded legs 21a.
No leg extensions are required. If the support surface for the
cooler is horizontal, then all of the foot assemblies could be
attached directly to the molded legs 21.
The inner support walls 24 (FIGS. 6 and 7) of the molded legs are
provided with channels 75. These channels could be used to receive
a molded plastic leg extension if it were desired to use plastic
rather than metal leg extensions.
Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, the top cap 18 includes a generally
horizontal central portion 78, a downwardly extending peripheral
wall 79, and an outwardly extending horizontal peripheral flange
80. The central portion is slightly raised in the center to
facilitate water run-off.
The peripheral wall 79 at each of the corners has a recess 81 which
corresponds to the shape of the legs 21 of the base and which is
vertically aligned with one of the legs. The corner recess in the
wall 79 is formed by a central portion 82, a pair of side portions
83 and 84, and shoulder portions 85 which merge with the straight
side portions of the wall 79. The lengths and angles of the wall
portions 82-84 correspond with the lengths and angles of the walls
25-27, respectively, of the legs 21. This permits two or more
coolers to be stacked in a vertical column by inserting the legs 21
of an upper cooler into the recesses 81 of the next lower cooler as
illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The distance between the recesses
corresponds to the distance between the legs so that horizontal
shifting of the coolers is restrained by engagement of the legs
with the walls of the recesses.
Upper and lower latches 87 and 88 (FIG. 8) are mounted at the
corners of the top cap 18 and the base 16 for holding the side
panels 17 against the top cap and base and against each other. The
upper latches also secures the top cap to the side panels.
Each of the side panels 17 includes a mitered right edge portion 89
and a mitered left edge portion 90. The right and left mitered
portions of adjacent side panels abut along a vertical line 91 as
illustrated in FIG. 8
A right latch bracket 92 is molded integrally with the side panel
at the top of the right mitered portion 89, and a left latch
bracket 93 is molded integrally at the top of the left mitered
portion 90. The right and left latch brackets are provided with
vertical grooves 94 and 95, respectively, on their outer lateral
sides for engaging the latch 87. The inner lateral sides of the
right and left brackets are provided with a V-shaped notch 96 and
V-shaped groove 97, respectively, which interfit and prevent
relative movement of adjacent side panels when they are
latched.
The upper latch 87 is generally U-shaped and includes a U-shaped
central portion 98 and a pair of laterally outwardly extending end
portions 99. Each of the end portions is slidably mounted in a slot
100 in a mounting bracket 101 which is molded integrally with the
peripheral flange 80 of the top cap. The flange 80 is recessed
inwardly below the mounting bracket 101 so that the latch 87 can
extend vertically downwardly in the latched position illustrated in
solid outline in FIG. 8.
The upper latch 87 is generally unlatched by pulling the latch out
of the grooves 94 and 95. The latch is formed from spring metal,
and the sliding relationship between the end portions 99 of the
latch and the slots 100 permit the latch to expand as it is pulled
out of the grooves. The mounting bracket 101 is provided with a
pair of V-shaped detents 102 for holding the latches in a generally
horizontal unlatched position illustrated in dotted outline in FIG.
8. The upper latch is thereby prevented from interfering with the
removal and replacement of the side panels.
The side panels are provided with similar lower latch brackets 104
and 105 at the bottom of the right and left mitered portions 89 and
90, respectively, of the side panels. The latch brackets include
vertical grooves 106 and 107 for the lower latch 88.
The base 17 includes a raised lip 108 for collecting water, and a
mounting bracket 109 for the lower bracket is molded integrally
with the lip. The U-shaped lower bracket includes end portions 110
which extend through slots 111 in the lower mounting bracket. The
lower mounting bracket is not positioned directly below the lower
latch brackets 104 and 105 because of the lip 108, and the legs of
the bracket 88 are therefore angled at 112 so that the upper
portions of the bracket can extend vertically when the latch is in
the latched position illustrated in solid outline.
When the side panels are to be removed, for example, for changing
the water-absorbant pads inside of the cooler, the upper and lower
latches are pulled outwardly. The side panels can then be removed
from the space between the top cap and the base. When the panels
are replaced, they are latched merely by pivoting the latches
inwardly into engagement with the grooves in the latch
brackets.
While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a
specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose
of illustration, it will be understood that many of the details
herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *